Our answers to all your hair questions!

Washing frequency, color care, how to prevent split ends... we explain all of the good hair habits you should be adopting!

Washing frequency, color care, how to prevent split ends... we explain all of the good hair habits you should be adopting!

1) Are 2-in-1 products as effective as two separate products?

2-in-1 products provide the advantage of saving time by combining a cleansing and care action. These products are very convenient for saving space in your suitcase, or when you live a fast-paced life and don’t have much time for yourself.
However, for the most effective results, the use of separate products with a specific purpose is recommended. Product formulas are adjusted to their use: shampoos have optimal, quick cleansing properties (they don’t need to be left on), while conditioners and masks, which are richer, require a longer amount of time in contact with the hair in order to ensure maximum effectiveness.

Our answer: Like the skin, there are several different types of hair. To keep your hair shiny and beautiful, our philosophy is simple: allow time for yourself and use the appropriate haircare products. Therefore, for an optimal result, use separate products, where each formula will have the best effect on the beauty of your hair!

 

2) What is the difference between a conditioner and a mask?

While they are both haircare products, a conditioner and a mask serve different purposes.  Conditioner is used to help detangle hair while a mask, which is richer by nature (botanical butter- and oil-based compositions), provides more concentrated, efficient care.

Our answer: a conditioner can be used after regular shampoo every day. A mask, which is richer, should be applied once or twice a week so as not to weigh down the hair fiber.

 

3) How can I take care of my color/bleaching?

Water is your hair’s best friend when it comes to ridding the fiber of impurities, but it is also one of the main factors that contributes to color fading. As you gradually wash your hair, the color becomes increasingly dull. With permanent dyes, the fiber is modified chemically, so the hair is more porous and may be weakened. You therefore need a gentle shampoo in order to not damage the fiber too much. We have specifically developed gentler, sulfate-free shampoos to meet the needs of weakened hair. To strengthen your hair and protect its color, we recommend using care products created specifically for the needs of colored hair.

Our answer: First and foremost, avoid washing too frequently, which will fade color. Use a gentle shampoo and provide the fiber with care to strengthen it. Natural protectant products are also recommended: they leave a protective film over the hair to limit color fading.

4) When should I change my shampoo? 

It is important to choose a shampoo that suits your hair type: damaged, fine, thick, straight, frizzy, oily, dry, etc. If your hair is:

- Natural (not colored): use a shampoo that maintains your hair’s health and improves its appearance.
- In an urban environment: opt for an anti-pollution range with a protective effect.
- Thin and lacking volume: avoid products that are too rich, which can weigh down your hair and produce a greasy effect.
- Dry and damaged: focus on nourishing, repairing shampoos.
- Dull but not damaged: shine/anti-pollution shampoos are for you!

We may be led to change our shampoo for several reasons: for example, the change of seasons and hormonal variations can affect sebum production in the scalp. Pollution is also an external factor that dulls the hair.
Our answer: Change your shampoo when you notice your hair is losing shine or becoming weighed down.

 

 

5) How many times a week should I wash my hair?

Your hair type plays a role in how often you should wash your hair. For example, sebum spreads more easily throughout thin hair, which tends to appear greasy more quickly. On the other hand, if your hair is thick and frizzy, sebum has a harder time traveling down the lengths; it tends to accumulate on the scalp, and therefore the lengths will be drier.
The more frequently hair is washed, the more damaged the lipidic film on the surface of the fiber will become, leaving the hair feeling dry. We therefore recommend using a gentle shampoo if you wash your hair daily.

Our answer: The first rule is to use products suited to your hair type! Then use your best judgment and choose a shampoo that will allow you to space out your washes as much as possible.

6) Can you go out with wet hair?

Healthy hair possesses a hydrophobic lipidic film on its surface and closed cuticles, which are the outermost keratin layer of the hair fiber.
When the hair gets wet, the cuticles open and the fiber swells, becoming porous and more vulnerable to external aggressors. Wet hair is therefore more exposed to external aggressors.

Our answer: It is best to make sure your hair is dry before starting off your day.

 

7) I exercise/swim in the pool several times a week; how can I protect my hair?

First and foremost, a swimming cap is the only way to limit the hair’s contact with chlorinated water, a source of aggression for the hair. In this case, the hair must be washed frequently, for which we recommend using a gentle shampoo and avoiding showers that are too hot, which can dull the hair.

Our answer: a swimming cap is a great solution for limiting the undesirable effects of chlorinated water on your hair! If you swim, consider washing your hair once out of the pool with a gentle shampoo.

 

8) Is there a difference in the way long and short hair should be cared for?

Long hair naturally suffers more damage due to its care routine, washing, drying, friction, etc. It therefore needs to be protected. Detangling products should be used to protect it against breakage; repairing treatments can be used to strengthen the ends, restore the lipidic film at the surface, and smooth the fiber’s cuticles.
But short hair deserves just as much attention. It benefits from gentle shampoos and should be protected with a conditioner or treatment once or twice per week.

Our answer: Long hair naturally needs more care than short hair, as it is more exposed to everyday aggressors. However, do not neglect your haircare routine if you have short hair! Using the appropriate products will leave it shiny and beautiful!

 

9) Is sleeping with a headscarf really helpful? 

In general, friction (clothing and scarves) weakens the hair fiber through its mechanical action. But all hair doesn’t react the same way; it depends on the type. If you have dry, brittle hair, it might be beneficial to limit friction against the already fragile fiber.
A silk scarf may help, as the soft fabric will cling less to the fiber than any other type of fabric and will thus reduce hair friction against your pillow.

Our answer: If your hair is brittle, a silk scarf may be useful to avoid damaging your hair while sleeping!

 

10) What kind of effect does limescale have on hair?

Often, tap water contains limescale which can dull the hair. Using products such as cosmetic vinegars in your rinse will help neutralize this limescale.

Our answer: A vinegar rinse will help your hair neutralize limescale deposits and restore shine.

11)  How can I protect my hair against heat sources?

The repeated application of heat (hair dryers, hair straighteners, etc.) is one of the main causes of weakened hair.
The high temperature accelerates water evaporation, which can damage the fiber and make it more porous. Heat also damages the internal structure of the fiber, which becomes less resistant. To counter this, we recommend using a strengthening serum which, when applied to the hair before using heat, will prevent potential irreversible damage.

Our answer: a source of heat with too high of a temperature is harmful to your hair, especially if it is regularly exposed to it. Do not hesitate to reinforce the hair with special strengthening serums developed to protect it.

 

Have you heard of the new must-try Eaux Fraîches?

Have you heard of the new Eaux Fraîches?

What better than Eaux Fraîches for a gorgeous, natural scent? Four refreshing fragrances in total to brighten your day. Use them to your heart's content!

What is an Eau Fraîche?

Lighter than a perfume, these fragrances stand out for their sweet, fruity, tangy scents. We love to use them year round, especially with the arrival of beautiful weather and while on vacation, to enjoy a light and delicate scent. So swap out your usual, more intense perfume for the brightness of an eau fraîche. 

Like a fresh-squeezed glass of juice in the summer, they will provide a refreshing sensation of lightness with their bright, sparkling notes. And since we don't want to wear the same perfume all year long, Eaux Fraîches are an excellent alternative to shake up your fragrance habits. Out with overpowering scents and in with fresh and bright aromas!

Our nature-inspired fragrances

Yves Rocher has unveiled all-new scents: the daintiness of a sprig of Lily of the Valley, the elegance of a flowering Cherry Blossom... four fragrances in total to take a nature-filled break and reconnect with the necessary pleasures of life:

  • Green Tea
  • Honeysuckle
  • Cherry Blossom
  • Lily of the Valley

The Yves Rocher bonus

We believe in meaningful and accessible fragrance-making. The quest for natural fragrances, quality ingredients, and French expertise are at the heart of our fragrance-making craft.

In an effort to limit our impact on the environment, we adopt a responsible approach to designing our products: the caps are made of recycled plastic, while the bottles and boxes of the eaux fraîches are completely recyclable. To top it all off, the fragrances are bottled in our French factories!

PS: To prolong the pleasure, each eau fraîche has a matching shower gel to boost the wonderful scent!

 

 

 

Behind the scenes of our perfume creations

Behind the scenes of our perfume creations

Capucine, Head of Fragrance Marketing at Yves Rocher, talks to us about the Eaux Fraîches Collection and brings us behind the scenes of its creation!

Going behind the scenes of the collection’s creation: 

What trades and expertise come together in the design of a fragrance?

It takes a lot of people!

To create our fragrances, we use a fragrance house; for The Collection, it’s Firmenich. In the development phase, the Marketing team is in charge of all the briefs and coordinates the various development stages. They produce several briefs:

  • A fragrance brief provided to the fragrance house, and approval of the final fragrance
  • A design brief for the bottle and box, provided to the creative agency
  • A formula brief, provided to the R&I teams
  • A brief provided to the internal teams for the technical and industrial development of the fragrance

Creating this Collection truly involves a collective effort! All of the internal teams in charge of development come together: development expertise, safety, regulatory affairs, legal, retail, and communications.

What are the key steps when creating a fragrance?

There are 4 main steps:

  • The fragrance brief provided to the fragrance house

This is a fundamental step carried out by the Marketing team, which is necessary for the smooth development process! This creates the framework for the entire project: what type of fragrance, what fragrance family, for which target audience, what story we want to tell, etc.

  • Delivery of the interpretation of the brief and the first creative ideas by the perfumers

A dozen ideas are submitted for a “classic” fragrance project. For example: with The Collection, we evaluated more than fifty, and the Marketing team chose 3 or 4.

  • Development of formulas for 1 year before bottling

The Marketing team, the Fragrance Laboratory team, and the Fragrance House meet once a week to adjust the notes, in order to provide the maximum amount of pleasure, character, and natural ingredients. During these meetings, we evaluate the perfumers’ submissions on test strips; we also test them on our skin and discuss the notes at length. In particular, we ask ourselves each week what natural raw materials compose each note, how we can maximize their presence, and if they come from traceable sources.

  • Consumer panel testing

When we are satisfied with the notes being developed, we test them on a consumer panel. This allows us to correct any flaws we did not pick up on and choose the note that’s most in line with the story we want to tell.

How long does it take to create a fragrance and launch a collection?

On average, it takes about 2 years to create a fragrance, from the initial idea to its launch on the market. For The Collection, it took 3 years of hard work and passion!

 What inspires you?

At Yves Rocher, Nature inspires us. In Nature, there are no stereotypes, no ideals to achieve, no uniformity. Nature is nothing more than experiences and emotions.

That’s why it is always the starting point for our fragrances.

About The Collection:

What connects the fragrances within The Collection? And why do we speak about it as a “Collection”?

We created a Collection of fragrances inspired by Nature. These fragrances are all experiences; they offer different positive emotions to wear depending on what suits you!

Behind this Collection is the desire to push our commitment to the well-being of humans and the planet even further. Each natural raw material highlighted is carefully chosen for its symbolism, quality, traceability, and of course what it adds to the scent!

In an effort to limit our impact on the environment, we’ve worked to create a more eco-friendly packaging design: the caps are made of recycled plastic, and the bottles and boxes are completely recyclable. Finally, we’ve removed anything unnecessary: our formulas no longer contain colorants or BHT, which is suspected of being an endocrine disrupter.

With the Eaux Fraîches, why did you decide to revamp the range?

Un Matin au Jardin got a completely new look, and the Eaux Fraîches are even more natural and committed! There are more natural ingredients in their formulas, there are no more colorants or BHT, and the packaging is more eco-friendly... all while preserving the beloved scents of the original fragrances. Consumers will therefore be able to find their Eau de Toilette, but in a more committed version.

Are you afraid customers will be disappointed that they can no longer find their fragrance?

We’re confident that this new fragrance Collection will be a nice surprise for our customers: more natural ingredients, more joy, and more pleasure while maintaining a lot of character. We hope our customers will find happiness among all of our new scents!

 

 

 What is your favorite Eau de Parfum or Eau Fraîche in The Collection?

I love Matin Blanc, because I feel like I'm wrapped in a cocoon; I also really like Nouveau Genre when I go out or when I need a confidence boost! I also adore Sel d’Azur, which is great even for men!

Within the team, Cuir de Nuit is also popular: it develops a beautiful trail, and we get a lot of compliments when we wear it.

Some tips for our readers:

What can I do to make my fragrance last throughout the day and prevent it from wearing off?

Don't rub your wrists or neck after putting on the perfume! This unfortunately common gesture “crushes” the scent molecules. Let your perfume dry naturally!

How should I store a perfume? How long can you keep a bottle of perfume?

Preferably away from light and heat.

 

The perfect back to school makeup look

Try out this look, which will enhance your healthy glow and the benefits of summer, to get back to reality beautifully!

Try out this look, which will enhance your healthy glow and the benefits of summer, to get back to reality beautifully!